Brig is Back!!!

Many birders in the Coastal NJ counties have longed for the day that they can return to certain birding spots temporarily claimed by Superstorm Sandy. One of the first to re-open is Edwin B Forsythe NWR (affectionately known as “Brig” to many birders.)

Effective 4-6-13, Wildlife Drive will be open on weekends only, with construction continuing during the week.

Much along the lines of visiting your favorite ballpark on opening day, Rob and I decided to take a trip down and enjoy a “loop.”

The refuge appears to be in great shape for the most part. The roads are not paved, but the “mess” has been cleared away!

Still more work to do, but nice to visit a familiar friend in the meantime

One major change that stood out was the clearing of trees that once separated the end of the Wildlife Drive from the pond at Jenn’s Trail.

With the Wildlife Drive reopenng, visitors may notice evidence of recent habitat management the refuge has been conducting. Here’s the lowdown on what we did and why:

WHAT WE DID: Cut back the growth.Using a powerful tool known as a hydro-axe, we cut down shrubs and trees, setting the growth of the forest back to the valuable scrub-shrub stage. This management will favor grasses, forbs, and especially fruit-producing shrubs and trees, including blackberry, viburnums, and cherry.

WHY WE DID IT: Management made better habitat for wildlife in the long run.Some animals like meadows, some like forest, but many prefer an in-between habitat known as scrub-shrub. Here at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, we manage habitats for all kinds of wildlife, including scrub-shrub users.

WHO BENEFITS? Special scrub-shrub species.Scrub-shrub management helps special species including American woodcock, brown thrasher, eastern meadowlark, blue grosbeak, eastern towhee, wintering and migrating land birds, cottontail rabbits, butterflies, and many others.

The birdies are back too!!! (click to enjoy these photos in a larger size)